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Cyber FlashCards

10 of the weirdest primate species

#5

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what is thIS PRIMATE'S common name?
PHILIPPINE TARSIER
Known locally as mawumag, magô, and mamag.
What is the scientific name?
Carlito syrichta
​WHAT KIND OF PRIMATE IS THIS?
PROSIMIAN
...although, because they are so unique, there is on-going debate about whether they should be categorized with monkeys. 
Where do they live?
As their name suggests, Philppine tarsiers are native to the Philippine archipelago. Populations of these small primates are primarily found in the southeast portion of the archipelago—notably the islands of Bohol, Dinagat, Siarago, Maripipi, Samar, Leyte, Basilan, and Mindano. They are endemic to these islands and found nowhere else.
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Asia
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Where Philippine tarsiers live. Map: Christopher Sundita/Creative Commons
New world or old world?
OLD WORLD
fascinating facts
  • Philippine tarsiers are among the world's smallest primates
  • Nocturnal, they are built to see, hear, and hunt in darkness
  • Large eyes are fixed in place. They turn their heads like owls to see what is beside them.
  • Hairless ridges ears detect even slighted insect movement
What threatens their future?
Philippine tarsier populations are decreasing. The main threat they face is habitat loss. Philippine tarsiers require a very specific type of habitat, which limits their potential liveable range. In addition, they are hunted by humans and sought after as pets. However, they typically die in captivity. Philippine tarsiers also have a high rate of infant mortality rate, which, coupled with low birth rates, poses additional problems for their population stability.
​WHAT IS their CONSERVATION STATUS?
NEAR THREATENED
What Does this Conservation Status mean?
Near Threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future​
Any species categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable is considered by conservation scientists to be a threatened species
​HERE'S A SNAPSHOT AND THE SPECIES' PROFILE
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Click or tap on the graphic to enlarge it
​LEARN MORE ABOUT PHILIPPINE TARSIERS Monkeys
Go to the Philippine tarsier Primate Species Profiles page
are philippine tarsiers good pets?
NO
  1. Philippine tarsiers die in captivity. They have very specific dietary and environmental needs that cannot be supported in captivity.
  2. Primates are never domesticated. They always remain wild. 
  3. Caged primates are very unhappy and frustrated. They are likely to resist confinement. They are quick and cause damaging bites and scratches. Some die as a result of their captivity.
  4. Many locations have strict regulations that prohibit trading in or keeping primates and endangered species are pets.
  5. Philippine tarsiers belong with other tarsiers in the Philippines. They and their habitats must be protected, not exploited.
#PrimatesAreNotPets
Why Do Species have both common and scientific names?
x
​Common names are not officially defined. They are based on everyday conversational language and may differ by country, region, profession, community, or other factors. As a result, it is not unusual for a species to have multiple common names.

Scientific names, on the other hand, are standardized and constant. They are Latinized and rule-bound by a formal naming system called binominal nomenclature. Scientific names prevent misidentification. They typically only change if a species is officially redesignated.
What's  the differences between monkeys, apes, and prosimians?
x
The biological order of Primates is divided into these classifications:​
  • Great Apes: bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, humans, and orangutans ​
  • ​Lesser Apes: gibbons ​
  • ​Monkeys: baboons, capuchins, colobus, drills, geladas, guenons, howlers, kipunjis, langurs, macaques, mandrills, mangabeys, marmosets, night monkeys, patas monkeys, proboscis monkeys, sakis, snub-nosed monkeys, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, tamarins, titis, uakaris, and woolly monkeys ​
  • ​​Prosimians: the oldest, most “primitive” order of primates, includes galagos (bushbabies), lemurs, lorises, pottos, and tarsiers​ ​​
Where in the world do nonhuman primates live?
x
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Learn more about where in the world nonhuman primates live
What are new world and old world monkeys?
x
​​New World monkeys are native to Central and South America.

Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia.
Learn about the differences between New World monkeys and Old World monkeys
What are the Levels of a rainforest?
x
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​Learn more about the ​Levels of a Rainforest
What are the conservation statuses?
x
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  • ​Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.
  • Extinct in the Wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity.
  • Critically Endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
  • Near Threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
  • Least Concern (LC) – Widespread and abundant.
  • Data Deficient (DD) – Not enough data to assess the species' risk of extinction.
  • Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated.
Learn more about ​Conservation Statuses
Learn More about Primates and their habitats
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Copyright © New England Primate Conservancy 2019. You may freely use and share these learning activities for educational purposes. 
​For questions or comments, e-mail us at info@neprimateconservancy.org.
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  • Primate Conservation
    • Primate Conservation
    • Primate Facts
    • Conservationist Limelight
    • Primates in Animal Studies
  • Education
    • What is Humane Education?
    • The Case of the Disappearing Habitat: The Candy Culprit-Get Started! >
      • Step 1: You're On the Case
      • Step 2: You Get a Clue
      • Step 3: The Investigation
      • Step 4: The Candy Boss
      • Step 5: The Case Isn't Closed Yet
      • Good Detective Strategies and Helpful Hints
    • Cyber Flashcards >
      • 10 of the most well known primate species
      • 10 of the weirdest primate species
      • 10 primate species you probably never heard of
      • 10 of the most endangered primates species
    • The Alphabet Soup of Conservation-Video and Introduction >
      • Alphabet Soup Activities
    • Your Evolutionary Family Tree-Start here >
      • Step 1: Observation
      • Step 2: Questions
      • Step 3: Background Research
      • Step 4: Hypothesis
      • Step 5: Experiment
      • Step 6: Analyze Data
      • Step 7: Conclusions
      • Step 8: Publish
      • Lab Notebook
    • Where Primates Live
    • Primates and Their Habitats Introduction >
      • Game 1: Monkey Match Up
      • Game 2: Concentration
      • Game 3: One Handed Solitaire
      • Game 4: Go Fish With a Twist
      • Activity 5: Whos in the Cards
    • Life in Tropical Rainforests Introduction >
      • Activity 1: Rainforest Matching Game
      • Activity 2: Living Between the Layers
      • Activity 3: Where in the World
      • Activity 4: Finding Fun Rainforest Facts
      • Activity 5: You Can Help Rainforests
  • Primates At-a-Glance
    • African Apes At-a-Glance
    • African Monkeys At-a-Glance
    • African Prosimians At-a-Glance
    • Asian Apes At-a-Glance
    • Asian Monkeys At-a-Glance
    • Asian Prosimians At-a-Glance
    • Latin American Monkeys At-a-Glance
  • Primate Profiles
    • Apes of Africa >
      • Bonobos
      • Chimpanzees
      • Gorillas
    • Apes of Asia >
      • Orangutans
      • Gibbons
    • Monkeys of Africa >
      • Allenopithecus
      • Baboons
      • Colobus Monkeys
      • Geladas
      • Grivets, Tantalus, Malbroucks, and Vervets
      • Guenons
      • Kipunjis
      • African Macaque
      • Mandrills
      • Mangabeys
      • Patas Monkeys
    • Monkeys of Asia >
      • Langurs, Leaf Monkeys, Lutungs, Surilis
      • Macaques
      • Proboscis Monkeys
      • Snub-Nosed Monkeys
    • Monkeys of Latin America >
      • Capuchin Monkeys
      • Howler Monkeys
      • Marmosets
      • Muriquis
      • Night or Owl Monkeys
      • Saki Monkeys
      • Spider Monkeys
      • Squirrel Monkeys
      • Tamarins
      • Titi Monkeys
      • Uakaris
      • Woolly Monkeys
    • Prosimians of Africa >
      • Galagos or Bushbabies
      • Lemurs
      • Pottos
    • Prosimians of Asia >
      • Lorises
      • Tarsiers
    • Glossary
  • How To Help Wildlife
    • What You Can Do
    • Personal Choices
    • Using media
    • In Your Community
  • About
    • What We Do
    • Education Team
    • Board of Directors
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
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  • Donate Today